Livingstonvs.Celtic

The reigning champions entered the international break on a high as they secured a 3-1 home victory over St Johnstone to climb above rivals Rangers to the top of the table, albeit only one point clear of the Gers who have a game in hand.

Celtic are now preparing for their first away game since losing 2-0 against Hearts at Tynecastle on March 3, a game in which Yang Hyun-Jun was controversially sent off in the 16th minute before Jorge Grant and Lawrence Shankland scored for the hosts either side of half time.

Defeat on Saturday against Livingston would see the Hoops suffer back-to-back away losses in the top flight for the first time this season, and for the first time ever under the tutelage of Rodgers across his two spells at the club.

Rodgers will be confident of success on Saturday, though, as he has never lost any of his previous five meetings against Livingston as Hoops manager, winning four and drawing one.

Celtic firm favourites to beat Livingston

Celtic also have a strong record against the Lions as they have won each of their last seven meetings in all competitions by an aggregate score of 20-4, scoring two or more goals in all seven victories.

Livingston, meanwhile, have come out on top in just one of their last 14 Scottish Premiership encounters with the Hoops - a 1-0 triumph in September 2021 courtesy of a first-half strike from Andrew Shinnie.

Rodgers will serve a touchline ban for this weekend's game following his critical comments made towards the officials after Celtic's loss at Hearts, but the Northern Irishman is confident his side can get the job done without his presence in the dugout.

"We've been preparing all week for the game and in these next couple of days we'll be finalising that," Rodgers told reporters on Friday. "The players will go in and I'll have a seat in the stand and I'll have communication from there.

"I've always been a coach that has loved being down there on the pitchside with the players to make any quick changes, but I've also got big trust in my staff here as well, and, like I say, we'll be in communication.

"The players will go into the game knowing exactly what it is they have to do, and we'll have that communication with the bench."

Celtic survived a Livingston fightback to beat the Lions 4-2 at Parkhead in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals earlier this month, and Rodgers is expecting another challenging contest against David Martindale's men on Saturday.

"We saw only a few weeks ago we played Livingston and they gave us a tough game," said Rodgers. "We were very good going forward in the game, but gave up too much on the other side. So, that's something that we will need to be better in.

"Overall, I'm really happy with where we're at after the international break. Getting players back, the squad is looking strong and the players have been really, really good in training, and we look to take that into the game.

"We know it will be a challenge for us as it always is at Livingston, but we played well there last time, and we look to do that again."

Celtic will remain top of the table with a victory against Livingston, before they turn their attention to the latest instalment of the Old Firm derby against title rivals Rangers at Ibrox on April 7.